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Karachi University PhD, MS programmes admission
Controversy still surrounds PhD, MS admissions
| Karachi, Nov 20: Confusion deepened over the admission policy of Karachi
University for MS/PhD programmes when the university removed a controversial
merit admission list from its official website, without citing any details about
the latest formula being adopted, two days after much hue and cry was raised on
the issue. |
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Students and teachers say there seems to be indecisiveness and
a lack of planning at the administrative level, recalling that the
administration earlier changed the merit formula stated in the admission
brochure and issued a list that did not have the names of many candidates who
had already passed the pre-entry test held last month.
The MS/PhD merit
list has been withdrawn following a strong criticism from teachers and students.
The episode occurred in the backdrop of NTS fiasco last month. About 60pc of the
total 1,770 candidates failed to pass the entry test held for the first time for
MS/PhD programmes at KU. The administration changed the merit formula and issued
a list that did not carry the names of many successful
candidates.
According to the latest formula decided by the deans of
various faculties and the pro-vice-chancellor in the Wednesday meeting, those
candidates who have secured at least 50 per cent marks in the test conducted by
the National Testing Service (NTS) will be considered for the admissions by
giving 40 per cent weight to the NTS test results and 60 per cent to academic
degrees.
Final decision awaited
Talking to Dawn, Karachi
University's pro-vice chancellor Dr Akhlaq Ahmed admitted that the admission
brochure did not make any reference to the merit formula likely to be
adopted.
"Yes, the admission brochure does not talk about giving any
weight to the academic degree. But this formula has been agreed upon in the
meeting. We will hold another meeting tomorrow to finalize the
decision."
A number of students contacted Dawn to express their concern
over what they termed 'a lack of seriousness in academic affairs and management'
on the part of the varsity administration.
According to them, the
university is violating its own rules and regulations by changing the merit
formula again and again and no official seems to be ready to take the blame for
the inconvenience being caused to the candidates.
"The admission brochure
clearly states that the qualifying marks would be 50 per cent in the entrance
test and there is no such mention of 60 per cent weight to the academic degree
and 40 per cent to the test," says a candidate whose name was not in the merit
list though she passed the NTS pre-entry test.
Another candidate who
found her name in the merit list says: "The varsity issued a notification signed
by the registrar in September, stating that the last academic degree of a
candidate would be accorded 60 per cent weight and the entrance test would be
given 40 per cent weight. Why is this rule being changed now?" she
asks.
The 40-60pc decision was taken by the vice-chancellor on behalf of
the Board of Advanced Studies and Research and the university's academic
council, according to the Sept 23 notification regarding the revised admission
schedule.
Teachers critical
The university teachers Dawn
spoke to were critical of the administration's poor handling of the admission
process. "It's the height of non-seriousness on the part of the KU
administration."
They say initially the university could not decide on
what policy be adopted for PhD programme and as such there have been no
admissions for over two years, adding "now when the process has been initiated,
after lumping the PhD programme admission process with the MS programme for some
unknown reasons, it is marred with numerous slipups.
"No transparency is
being demonstrated in the admission process as students are being kept in the
dark about the merit formula to be adopted for the final list."
Dr Aqeel
Ahmed, a member of the advanced studies and research board, questions the act of
unilateral administrative decisions in the presence of relevant statuary
bodies.
"The vice-chancellor has the authority to take such decisions.
But our objection is quite basic and that involves discussing serious matters
like these in relevant forums."
On the confusion created by the
controversial merit list, Dr Ahmed says: "The mess would not have been created
if bodies like the board of advanced studies and research has been involved and
taken into confidence. There is no doubt that the whole episode is reflective of
huge gaps in the management at KU."
It is feared that only a few students
would ultimately make it to the MS/PhD programmes as students are required to
enrol themselves at their respective departments with relevant supervisors.
"Since the university has limited number of PhDs, the number of students taking
up MS and PhD programmes would be much less than the number of those in the
merit list," a teacher observes.
HEJ candidates
Clarifying
the H.E.J Research Institute of Chemistry's position on the admissions, Dr
Tanveer Ahmed Farooqui says none of the 38 H.E.J institute's candidates, who
appeared in the NTS exam, failed rather their results were withheld.
"The
NTS test paper contained no question about organic chemistry which is the area
of the institute's research rather it focused on physical chemistry. Soon after
the test, we contacted the KU administration. The NTS admitted its mistake and
the results of all the 38 students were withheld," he says, citing Nov 30 as the
fresh date for their entry tests.
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Over 8,000 teachers don't turn up in Mansehra schools
Mansehra: Minister for Food Shujah Salim Khan has termed
absenteeism a main reason behind what he called the mess in the education
department in the district, saying more than half of teachers have been
receiving salaries without performing their duties.
"The government
spends over Rs1 billion annually on salaries and other expenses of the district,
but absenteeism has marred performance of government schools and that's why most
of students fail board examinations," he said at the golden jubilee ceremony of
the Degree Collage here on Wednesday.
The minister said 8,000 of 14,000
male and female teachers had remained absent from their duties for many years,
but had been receiving salaries every month, adding: "Such culture will not be
tolerated in future and teachers who are found absent from duty will be dealt
with strictly under the laws because we want progress in fields like education
and health."
Mr Shujah said if the federal government wanted to develop
the country and put it on the path of prosperity it should cut the defence
budget and increase the budget for education. He said it was difficult to bring
major changes in the existing education system in the province because the
government was short of funds.
He said the provincial government had
approved 20 collages in current year's fiscal budget, adding two of the colleges
would be established in the Mansehra district.
Speaking on the occasion,
NWFP Minister for Higher Education Qazi Asad said the provincial government was
giving priority to the education department because the province could not make
progress in any field if its people were not educated.
He said that to
promote higher education among girls, two girls' collages would be established
in backward areas of Atarshesha and Tanawal in the Mansehra district. Dawn
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Education News| Updated: 04 July, 2009 |
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